International destination listing

Senders should determine import restrictions from the country's authorities before posting:

• animal products
• foodstuffs, prepared
• hemp
• hides and skins, raw
• pharmaceutical products
• precious metal products
• vegetables and plant products
• weapons.

Meat, meat products, milk and milk products must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate from the country of origin.

The following is a partial listing of commodities that might be restricted for entry into the Netherlands:

• agricultural chemicals and equipment
• articles of goldsmith or silversmith wares
• bees, leaches and silkworms
• bark
• certain Agricultural Products
• certain rubber tubing
• cocoa leaves and cannabis
• DHEA
• embryos; animal, birds and other
• fillings for cushions, bedding, toys, clothing, and furniture
• fuel Oil
• fruit, citrus fruit and nuts
• glassware
• goods containing a high level of cadmium
• goods traveling under an ATA Carnet
• hatched eggs from domestic poultry
• hemp
• knives (flick, hunting switch blades, throwing)
• leather watch strap
• military weapons
• meat and meat products
• melatonine
• motorcycle helmets
• ozone depleting substances
• plant and plant products
• preparations for smoke treatment of foodstuffs
• products subject to 'Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora' (CITIES)
• rubber condoms
• seeds for sowing
• semen
• soft drink containers
• textiles
• viagra
• vegetables (tomatoes, garlic, leeks, red cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, lettuce, endives)
• wood.

Gifts

Articles consigned as "Unsolicited gifts" are acceptable and will be allowed entry free of any duty or VAT providing the shipment is valued at less than 45 EURO originated from and consigned to an individual, and are individually wrapped. Multiple gifts can be consigned in one shipment so long as the individual parcels enclosed are individually tagged with the recipients name, are individually wrapped and the value does not exceed the per person limit of 45 EURO. Shipments consigned to companies as gifts for an individual may be denied entry as gifts and will be subject to full duty and VAT. Generally, most articles can be consigned as gifts, except those articles noted prohibited or restricted for import (see General Import Prohibitions and Restrictions).

Exceptions to note, limited to only one of the following articles per gift:

Cigarettes (50 cigarettes total)

Perfume (50 grams net weight)

Toilet Water (.25 liter)

Liquor Spirits, Wine (1 liter total)

Cigars (10 cigars total, not of Cuban origin)

Small cigars (25 total)

The gift shipment should be tendered with the following documents and statements:

• air waybill
• commercial invoice
• the description provided on both the Air Waybill or bill of Lading and Commercial Invoice should specify the description of the actual goods enclosed and followed with this statement or similar "Unsolicited gifts not for resale or other purpose". Descriptions such as "Gift" or "Unsolicited Gifts" should be avoided.

Prohibited Items

In addition to items considered non-mailable matter, the following are prohibited:

• knives
• lottery tickets and advertising, unauthorized
• offensive publications
• plastic tubes and pipes

The following is a partial listing of commodities that might be prohibited for entry into the Netherlands:

• animals, Birds and other Livestock
• animal carcasses or products
• animal fat
• birds eggs
• certain Agricultural Products
• counterfeit, passports, etc.
• counterfeit or pirated goods
• cigarettes and tobacco products
• embryos; animal, birds and other
• explosives, pyrotechnic products
• flours and meal of animal origin
• goods bearing false origin statements
• goods infringing a copyright
• goods infringing a trade mark
• laser Gadgets Class II, III, and IV and products
• laser Pointers class III and IV
• lard
• live animals
• live fish of all species
• lottery tickets or foreign games of chance
• nitrocellulosic films
• offensive material
• organic chemicals
• ozone depleting substances
• pasta, stuffed or filled
• potatoe seeds
• unregistered pharmaceutical products
• semen
• serums and vaccines
• shrimp coming from or originating in countries that are not members of the European Community.

Documentation Required

Information regarding Customs can be found in "Customs Requirements" of the Canada Postal Guide.

Certificates of Origin

Certificates of Origin are required for a small number of goods such as textile products. Exceptions include mutilated samples, used or gifts with a fair market value less than 300 Euro. The need for a certificate of origin should be ascertained directly from the importer or the appropriate customs authority. A certificate of origin may also be stipulated in letter of credit terms or be requested by the importer. When required, two copies are necessary on a general form. Customs authorities also accept certificates issued by authorized local chambers of commerce or boards of trade.

Commercial Invoices

Invoices are required for all shipments. Invoices should show freight, insurance, value of the goods, name of consignee, correct address, phone- and/or fax number, a clear description of the goods, (if possible the harmonized code), Incoterm. In case of returned goods, a statement that this concerns return after (fill in reason) and serial numbers and model numbers. In the case of goods for temporary import, a statement should be included that this concerns temporary import (fill in a reason), and serial numbers and model numbers should also be included.

Dangerous Goods Certification

Some goods will, in addition to the standard documentation noted above, require DG certification. IE: Chemicals, etc.

VI1

This document is needed for wine; grape juice must be in shipments of a quantity of more than 60 liters.

Phytosanitary

Sanitary certificates from the appropriate agencies in the exporting country are required for the import of plants and plant products, as well as animals and animal products, and wood.

Preferential Agreement Documentation

These are certificates that certify the origin of the manufacturing country. In some cases this form will entitle the importer to an exemption or reduced rate of duty. These certificates are commodity specific as well as country specific and can only be accepted and honoured for goods that meet all criteria as outlined by the preference agreements in force.

Licenses

Costs for registration and import duties are payable to the postal or courier company.

In some cases licenses are needed prior to import, this is commodity and/or country specific. (E.g. Steel license, textile license, precursor license etc.)

All documents presented for use in customs clearance processing should be prepared in English, to avoid delays and expedite clearance processing.

Value Added Tax (VAT)

The Import One-Stop-Shop (IOSS) is a program that allows the seller to collect the Value Added Tax (VAT) at the time of purchase, rather than have VAT collected by the recipient at the time of delivery. Under the IOSS program, VAT is remitted monthly by the seller directly to the European Union (EU) tax authority using an online portal. The IOSS can only be used for shipments with a value of less than €150. For shipments over €150, there are no changes to the collection of VAT, duties or other applicable fees on imported goods. The IOSS program also cannot be used for goods subject to excise duties (such as tobacco or alcohol) or gifts. More information on the program can be found here.

In order to register for an IOSS number, a business must have an address in one of the EU member states or hire an IOSS intermediary. If you sell through an online shipping platform or marketplace, you can contact them to see if they are registered for the IOSS program and have their own IOSS number.

If using the IOSS program, the IOSS number must be included when creating the electronic shipping label, entered in the “Tax ID” field (sender.identification.reference). This will allow for the number to be sent electronically. If the number is not present in the electronic data, VAT may be collected from the recipient at the time of delivery. The following Canada Post shipping systems can be used to capture and transmit the IOSS number:

• EST Desktop 2.0
• SnapShip
• Shipping Manager

The IOSS number cannot be transmitted electronically when using a retail location. IOSS numbers start with IM, followed by 10 numeric digits (ex: IM0123456789). When using the IOSS program, a minimum 6-digit Harmonized System (HS) code is required. To find the right HS code, visit the Canada Post HS Lookup tool.